Signalling apparatus and sensor apparatus

• US 9,224,317 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2012
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: OSRAM GmbH (Ams-Osram AG)
• Original Assignee: OSRAM GmbH (Ams-Osram AG)
• Inventors: Lott, Joerg
• Primary Examiner(s): McNally, Kerri
• Application Number:
  US14/123,114
• Publication Number:
  US 20140085097A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,329 Days
• Field of Search: 340/815.45
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/33 being semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/06 Switching arrangements, e.g. from series operation to parallel operation
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/44 with an active control inside an LED matrix
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/46 having LEDs disposed in parallel lines
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/48 having LEDs organised in strings and incorporating parallel shunting devices
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/165 following a pre-assigned programmed sequence; Logic control [LC]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/17 Operational modes, e.g. switching from manual to automatic mode or prohibiting specific operations

Abstract

A signaling device may include a first signaling illuminant; a second signaling illuminant; and a control device having at least one information input for coupling to an information source, wherein the control device is configured to drive the first signaling illuminant and the second signaling illuminant in a manner dependent on the signal at the information input in order to set one of four states, wherein only the first signaling illuminant is switched on in the first state, only the second signaling illuminant is switched on in the second state, the first signaling illuminant and the second signaling illuminant are switched on in the third state, wherein the first signaling illuminant and the second signaling illuminant are switched off in the fourth state, wherein the control device is configured to operate the first signaling illuminant and the second signaling illuminant in a series circuit in the third state.

Claims

1. A signaling device comprising

a first signaling illuminant;

a second signaling illuminant; and

a control device having at least one information input for coupling to an information source, wherein the control device is configured to drive the first signaling illuminant and the second signaling illuminant in a manner dependent on the signal at the information input in order to set one of four states, wherein only the first signaling illuminant is switched on in the first state, only the second signaling illuminant is switched on in the second state, the first signaling illuminant and the second signaling illuminant are switched on in the third state, wherein the first signaling illuminant and the second signaling illuminant are switched off in the fourth state,

wherein the control device is configured to operate the first signaling illuminant and the second signaling illuminant in a series circuit in the third state,

wherein the control device comprises a bridge circuit having a first, a second, a third and a fourth electronic switch, wherein the first electronic switch and the second electronic switch are coupled in a parallel circuit between a supply voltage and the bridge center point, wherein the third electronic switch and the fourth electronic switch are coupled in a parallel circuit between the bridge center point and a reference potential, wherein the first signaling illuminant is coupled in series with the second electronic switch, wherein the second signaling illuminant is coupled in series with the third electronic switch, wherein a drive device is provided, which is configured to realize the following switching states of the electronic switches;

a) first switch off;

second switch on;

third switch off;

fourth switch on;

b) first switch on;

second switch off;

third switch on;

fourth switch off;

c) first switch off;

second switch on;

third switch on;

fourth switch off; and

d) first switch on;

second switch off;

third switch off;

fourth switch on.

2. A signaling device comprising

a first signaling illuminant;

a second signaling illuminant; and

a control device having at least one information input for coupling to an information source, wherein the control device is configured to drive the first signaling illuminant and the second signaling illuminant in a manner dependent on the signal at the information input in order to set one of four states, wherein only the first signaling illuminant is switched on in the first state, only the second signaling illuminant is switched on in the second state, the first signaling illuminant and the second signaling illuminant are switched on in the third state, wherein the first signaling illuminant and the second signaling illuminant are switched off in the fourth state,

wherein the control device is configured to operate the first signaling illuminant and the second signaling illuminant in a series circuit in the third state,

wherein the control device comprises a first, a second and a third terminal, wherein the first terminal is assigned to the first signaling illuminant, wherein the second terminal is assigned to the second signaling illuminant, wherein the third terminal is assigned to the first signaling illuminant and to the second signaling illuminant,

wherein the first signaling illuminant is coupled to the first terminal of the control device, the second signaling illuminant is coupled to the second terminal of the control device, wherein the first signaling illuminant is coupled to the second signaling illuminant with the formation of a coupling point in such a way that there can be a flow in series through the first signaling illuminant and the second signaling illuminant from the first terminal to the second terminal, or vice versa, wherein the coupling point is coupled to the third terminal of the control device via a matching device.

3. The signaling device as claimed in claim 2,

wherein the matching device comprises at least one ohmic resistor.

4. The signaling device as claimed in claim 3,

wherein the matching device comprises:

the series circuit formed by a first ohmic resistor and a first diode; and

the series circuit formed by a second ohmic resistor and a second diode, which is reverse-connected in parallel with the series circuit formed by the first ohmic resistor and the first diode.

5. The signaling device as claimed in claim 4,

wherein the first ohmic resistor has a different resistance value than the second ohmic resistor.

6. The signaling device as claimed in claim 2,

wherein the signaling device comprises a terminal for coupling to a DC voltage source, wherein the signaling device furthermore comprises a voltage regulator, the input of which is coupled to the terminal for coupling to a DC voltage source, wherein the voltage regulator is configured to provide at its output a voltage that is lower than the voltage present at its input.

7. The signaling device as claimed in claim 6,

wherein the signaling device comprises an electronic switch having a control electrode, an operating electrode and a reference electrode, wherein the control device is coupled to the output of the voltage regulator, wherein the first signaling illuminant is coupled between the terminal for coupling to a DC voltage source and the operating electrode of the electronic switch, wherein the first of the three terminals of the control device is coupled to the control electrode of the electronic switch, wherein the second signaling illuminant is coupled between the second of the three terminals of the control device and the reference electrode of the electronic switch, wherein the reference electrode of the electronic switch is coupled to the third of the three terminals of the control device via a matching circuit.

8. A signaling device comprising

a first signaling illuminant;

a second signaling illuminant; and

a control device having at least one information input for coupling to an information source, wherein the control device is configured to drive the first signaling illuminant and the second signaling illuminant in a manner dependent on the signal at the information input in order to set one of four states, wherein only the first signaling illuminant is switched on in the first state, only the second signaling illuminant is switched on in the second state, the first signaling illuminant and the second signaling illuminant are switched on in the third state, wherein the first signaling illuminant and the second signaling illuminant are switched off in the fourth state,

wherein the control device is configured to operate the first signaling illuminant and the second signaling illuminant in a series circuit in the third state,

wherein the control device comprises a first, a second and a third terminal, wherein the first terminal is assigned to the first signaling illuminant, wherein the second terminal is assigned to the second signaling illuminant, wherein the third terminal is assigned to the first signaling illuminant and to the second signaling illuminant,

wherein the control device comprises a microcontroller and a driver device, wherein the microcontroller is coupled to the driver device via a first control line and a second control line, wherein the driver device has the first, the second and the third terminal.

9. The signaling device as claimed in claim 8,

wherein the microcontroller is configured to apply switching signals for switching on the first or the second or the first and the second signaling illuminant to the driver device via the first control line and the second control line.

10. The signaling device has claimed in claim 8,

wherein the microcontroller is coupled to the output of a voltage regulator and the driver device is coupled to the terminal for coupling to a DC voltage source.

11. The signaling device as claimed claim 8,

wherein the first signaling illuminant is configured to emit a radiation in a first visible wavelength range;

and

wherein the second signaling illuminant is configured to emit a radiation in a second visible wavelength range, which differs from the first visible wavelength range.

12. The signaling device as claimed in claim 8,

wherein the first signaling illuminant and the second signaling illuminant in each case comprise at least one LED.

13. The signaling device as claimed in claim 12,

wherein a first ohmic resistor is coupled in series with the first signaling illuminant and a second ohmic resistor is coupled in series with the second signaling illuminant.

14. A signaling device comprising

a first signaling illuminant;

a second signaling illuminant; and

a control device having at least one information input for coupling to an information source, wherein the control device is configured to drive the first signaling illuminant and the second signaling illuminant in a manner dependent on the signal at the information input in order to set one of four states, wherein only the first signaling illuminant is switched on in the first state, only the second signaling illuminant is switched on in the second state, the first signaling illuminant and the second signaling illuminant are switched on in the third state, wherein the first signaling illuminant and the second signaling illuminant are switched off in the fourth state,

wherein the control device is configured to operate the first signaling illuminant and the second signaling illuminant in a series circuit in the third state,

wherein the control device has at least one output for driving a superordinate central control device in a manner dependent on the signal at the at least one information input.

15. A sensor device for operating a lighting device comprising a signaling device,

the signaling device comprising:

a first signaling illuminant;

a second signaling illuminant; and

a control device having at least one information input for coupling to an information source, wherein the control device is configured to drive the first signaling illuminant and the second signaling illuminant in a manner dependent on the signal at the information input in order to set one of four states, wherein only the first signaling illuminant is switched on in the first state, only the second signaling illuminant is switched on in the second state, the first signaling illuminant and the second signaling illuminant are switched on in the third state, wherein the first signaling illuminant and the second signaling illuminant are switched off in the fourth state,

wherein the control device is configured to operate the first signaling illuminant and the second signaling illuminant in a series circuit in the third state,

wherein the control device has at least a first and a second information input, wherein the sensor device furthermore comprises;

a first sensor auxiliary device, which is coupled to the first information input of the control device, wherein the first sensor auxiliary device is configured to measure at least one lighting-relevant parameter and to provide a signal correlated therewith at the first information input of the control device; and

an IR signal receiving device, which is coupled to the second information input of the control device, wherein the IR signal receiving device is configured to provide an information signal correlated with the received IR signal at the second information input of the control device.